ABSTRACT
Commentary In a multicultural society it would be most surprising if all patients had the same level of capacity for reading, writing or understanding the English language. So, what does ‘true consent’ mean for the patient from Vietnam or Bangladesh who cannot speak or write English? What should the health carer do to satisfy himself that the patient has reasonably understood what is being said to him? Furthermore, what if the information is imparted in complex technical jargon so that even an English-speaking person would not understand what has been said?
